The solar eruption, known as a
coronal mass ejection (CME), occurred at 4:24 a.m. EDT (0824
GMT) Tuesday and blasted billions of tons of solar particles
toward Earth at a mind-boggling speed of 2 million mph (3.3
million km/h).

"Experimental NASA research models, based on observations from
NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, show that the CME
left the sun at speeds of around 570 miles per second, which is a
fairly typical speed for CMEs," NASA officials wrote in an update
today. NASA's twin Stereo spacecraft and the Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory, operated by NASA and the European Space
Agency, captured photos
of the solar storm from space.

The particles ejected by Earth-directed CMEs typically take two
or three days to reach our planet, at which point they can
trigger geomagnetic storms that can disrupt radio communications,
GPS signals and power grids.

However, Tuesday's blast doesn't appear to have too much
disruptive potential.

"In the past, geomagnetic storms caused by CMEs of this strength
have usually been mild," NASA officials wrote.

CMEs that hit Earth can also ramp up the auroras, also known as
the northern and southern lights. In fact, an enhanced auroral
display may be on tap tonight and tomorrow for some skywatchers,
thanks to a CME that erupted on Saturday (Aug. 17).

The cloud from the Aug. 17 CME is not expected to slam directly
into Earth, but our planet will likely cruise through the cloud's
wake after it passes by, experts said.

"This could trigger polar geomagnetic storms despite the CME
being off-target," the website SpaceWeather.com reported today.
"High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras on August
20-21."

The sun is reaching the peak activity phase of its current
11-year cycle, which is known as Solar Cycle 24. Solar Cycle 24's
maximum is shaping up to be the weakest of the last 100 years or
so, scientists say, with relatively few powerful solar flares,
CMEs and other big space weather events.

Editor's note: If you snap an amazing
picture of the northern lights or any other night sky sight that
you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, send
photos, comments and your name and location to Managing Editor
Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.